Feeler mechanism for looms



Sept. 2 1924. A. E. RHOADES FEELER uacnmrsu FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 14, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l W \/E/\/ TOR 1 I'ATTC/IRNEYI A. E. RHOADES FEELER mncmmrsu FOR LOOMS 'Filed Dec. 14, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY- Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT F CE."

ALONZO E. RHOADES, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TODRAPER; COR- POIR-ATION', .OF I-IOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, ACOR-PORATIQN 0F, MAINE.

FEnLEn MECHANISM non Looms.

Application filed December 14, 1923 Serial No. 680,721.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALoNzo E. RHoADns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, in theficounty of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like characters onthe drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms whereby the operative condition of the loom is changed from time to time, and more particularly the present invention relates to feeler mechanisms of the intermittent type.

In feeler mechanisms of the general type' referred to the feeler is held in a frontward or inoperative pos tion for periods of tlme and is periodically released from said position to perform its detecting function, and

should a working supply of filling be present in the shuttle on a detecting beat following movementof the feeler to its feeling position,

" it is again moved frontwardly by the filling and held in fro'ntward position for another interval of time. feeler detect a near approach to substantlal exhaustion of the filling on a detecting beat,

it will remain in its feeling position and continue to detect the condition of the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof is reached, whereupon the feeler will operate to effect a change inthe loom operation, such, for instance, as replenishment of filling;

Vhen the feeler is in operative or feelin position to detect the condition of the filling in the shuttle, the desired sensitiveness of the feeler should b such thatv it may properly function without injuriously effecting the filling during its period of operation. One of the important features of the present invention, therefore, consists in a feeler mechanism of the intermittent type wherein the feeler may sensitively cooperate with the filling when in feeling position, and

when moved frontwardly by a working sup ply of filling on a detectinglbeat it may autoniatically pass into control of means for holding the feeler in its frontward' retracted position.

Since oneof the many purposes of the in termittent feeleris to prevent injury'to the filling by recurring contacts with the filling on detecting beats, it is important that the Should, however, the

v a feeler riods of activity of the feeler;-

feelerbe moved into such inoperative or re- "i1nportant feature of the present invention,- therefore, consists 111 a feeler mechanism wherein the feeler is given frontward movement in addition to that imparted by the working supply of filling on a detecting. beat to retract the feeler'from the position to which it has been moved by'the filling, so that on subsequent beats the feeler will not engage the filling. I i

In accordance with the present invention the feeler is held in itsfrontward or inoperative position by a detent which is tripped from time to time from a-moving partof the loom such as the take-up, to release the feeler to the performance of its feeling function, and when the feeler is thus freed, the detent is looked in its inoperative position orv out of engagement with the feeler, so that the feeler may act sensitively. In the present invention, also, when the detent is moved new combination of parts will best be made clear from the [following description and the accompanying drawings of one form of mechanism embodying the invention;

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the feeler side of a loom provided with the present invention, only such parts being shown-as are necessary for a full understanding thereof;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the detent look or holding means for retaining the detent in its inoperative position during pe- Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a feeler mechanism embodying the present invention, some of the parts being broken away, and the feeler being illustrated as held in its frontward retracted by the detent; I

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan showing'more particularly the detent movement forv carryposition ing the feeler' frontwardly whenthe detent f Fig. is a view in perspective showing the relation of parts when the teeler has been released by the detent and the detent itself is heldin its inoperative position.

The invention is shown as embodied in a teeler mechanism of the side swipe type wherein the t'eeler is moved in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to effect replenishment of filling when that in the shuttle is substantially exhausted, and while the advantages of the invention are well manifested in such type of teeler mechanism, it is to be understood that the'invention is not necessarily restricted thereto but may be employed in connection with any type of intermittent teeler mechanisms. In the present instance ot the invention, also, the teeler mechanism is shown as contrived to eii'ect replenishment of filling when that in the active shuttle is substantially exhausted, but since the replenishment mechanism and the details thereof torni no special part of the present invention, it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate and describe these i'eatures except in so far they are associated with the feeler mechanism.

The loom frame 1 is of usual construction and has mounted thereon the transverse or rock shaft 2 which extends transversely of the loom, and connected to the train of mechanism for rendering operative the leeler mechanism as usual in filling replenishing looms. Secured to and extending upwardly from the transverse or rock shaft 2 is an arm 3 to which is pivoted at a an actuator 5 the rear end portion 6 of which is adapted to be engaged by an operating member 7 when the filling is to be changed. The operating member '7 is conveniently formed as part of or is secured to the cam follower. The rear portion 6 of the actuator 5 is constituted as a member pivoted at 8 and provided with a finger 9 overlying the one arm 10 ot a bell.crank lever pivoted at 11, Fig. 1, and connected at 12 with a trai'isniitter 13 which is itself connected to a slide 14.

Extending from the loom frame is the shipper stand 15 to which is connected a bracket 16 which may be conveniently secured to the shipper stand by an adjusting bolt 17.

The fe'eler stand 18 is connected to the supporting bracket 16 by a bolt 19 which passes through a slot 20 formed in the :teeler stand, the construct-ion being such that the feeler stand may be adjusted into its proper position.

The feeler stand has formed at the rear portion thereof the bearings 21 in which the slide 145 is movable laterally, and passing through an opening 22 in the slide is the feeler 23, the opening 22 being of larger dimensions than th feeler that the teeler may have some movement in the opening stantially are the same as the corresponding parts in the patent to Edward S. Stimpson, no. 1,309,227, July 8, 191a.

l in accordance with the present invention, the teeler is provided with a part adapted to be engaged by a detent for holding the teeler in its frontward retracted position, and in the present instance said part is formed as a bar which may be con veniently secured to the top of the feeler and providing at its rear end a shoulder or projection 31 adapted to be engaged by the detent to hold the feeler in its frontward retracted position.

The lay 32 is provided with the shuttle box 33 adapted to receive the shuttle 3 1 containing the filling carrier or bobbin 35 on which the filling is wound, and as usual in this class of looms, the front wall of the shuttle box is provided with an opening 36 adapted to register with an opening 87 in the front wall of the shuttle when the latter is properly positioned in the detecting shuttle box. These parts may be as usual,

Extending from the loom frame, as shown in the present instance, projecting upwardly from the shipper stand is a bracket 38 on which is pivotally supported at 39 the detent for holding the teeler in its frontward retracted position. In the present instance the detent is formed as a lever 40 having its front end portion 41 extending transversely over the top of the teeler, as indicated in Figs. 1 and pivotal support 39 to be engaged by a tripping device, presei'itly to be described, and the detent 410 is normally under the influence of a spring 48 tending to turn the detent into its operative position.

In accordance with the present invention, when the detent is .in its operative position, as indicated in Fig. 3, the part or projection 81 carried by the feeler will engagethefront side of the detent and hold the i'eeler in its frontward retracted position and in order to release the 'leeler periodically a tripping device is provided. In the present instance the tripping device comprises a slide 4A mounted on a guide or box 45 secured to the rear portion of the shipper stand, and its lower endis connected at illi with an arm47 which extends downwardly and is jointed at d8 to a tripping lever 19 pivoted at 50 to V The other end. 4:72 l of the detent is extended laterally from the,

loo

the loom frame or to a bracket 51 secured thereto Surrounding the pivotal support of the tripping lever 19 is a spring 52 normally tending to turn the tripping lever 19 in a clockwise direction, indicated in Fig' 1, and limited in such movement by a stop which may be conveniently formed on common in takeup mechanisms, is given a.

rotary movement from a going part of the loom to. take up the cloth as-woven' It will not be necessary herein to describe the train of take-up mechanism beyond what has already been said, because such mechanisms are now well-known. such that as the take-up mechanism is actuated to take up the cloth, the tripping lug 55 which moves in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, will engage the end 54 of the.

tripping lever after a predetermined number of picks and will lift the end 5% of the tripping lever to thereby depress the slide 14 and through a. hook portion 57 of the slide which engages the end 12 of the detent move the. detent clockwise viewing Figs. 1 and 3, and thereby free the feeler to the performance of its feeling function.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the detent when freed from engagement with the feeler is to be held or locked in its inoperative position that it may not interfere with the sensitiveness of the feeler during the performance of its feeling function.

The lock for thus holding the detentin its inoperative position may be variously contrived,'but in the present instance of the invention the lock is formed as a plunger 58, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, which is mounted in a casing 59 secured to the feeler stand. In the present instance the casing 59 is shown as secured to the rear portion of the feeler stand and may be conveniently formed as a part of the cover plate 60 which confines the slide 14 in its bearings 21.

The stem 61 of the plunger, Fig. 2, ex tends frontwardly of the casing 59 and has secured thereto a lug 62 by means of a nut 68 and the lug 62 preferably extends clownwardly and its lower portion 64 engages a guide member 65 formed on or secured to the feeler stand. The lug 62, as shown, is disposed some distance in front of the bridge 27 and thebearing portions 29 thereof. the construction being such that should the feeler be moved frontwardly' a predetermined amount, thelug 62 will be engaged The construction is engagement with the feeler.

by the bearing portion 29 carried by the feeler and will cause the plunger 58 to bev retracted, but when the feeler is released from the'detent and moves rearwardly, the spr1ng66; within the casing 59 will cause the plunger 58 tobe moved rearwardly under.

the end of the detent and thereby holdthe detent in v:its raised or inoperative position andout of engagement with the feeler, that the latter may" perform its feeling functions with the desired sensitiveness.

Should the feeler meet a working supply of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat after it has been released by the detentand while the detent is locked in its inoperative position, itwill be moved frontwardly sufficiently far to cause the part or shoulder 31 on thefeeler to pass frontward under the detent, and when this relation of parts has been effected, the bearing 29 carried by the feeler will engage the lug 62 of the plunger and retract the end 58 of the plunger to thereby permit the detent to again move into its feeler holding position.

From the construction thus far described it will be apparentthat when the feeler is releasedby the detent and moves to its,

feeling position, that the detent'itself will be locked'or held by the plunger 58 in its inoperative non-engaging position with the feeler and thus permit the feeler to act sensitively in cooperation with the filling. Should the feeler detect a working supply of filling in the shuttle on the following de- 10,0

tecting beat or beats, it will be moved fr0ntwardly therebyuntil the partor shoulder 31 of the feeler passes in front ofthe .de-

tent, at which time the plunger 58 will be withdrawn. from under the end of the detent,

and permit the latter to move into locking In order that the feeler may be moved fro-ntwardly an. amount additional to that caused by a working supply of filling on a detecting beat, the engaging part of the detent is caused to be moved frontwardly as it moves into engaging position with the feeler, so that on subsequent detecting beats the feeler will not engage the filling.

.To effect such movement of the detent, the pivotal support 39 carrying the detent fits the bearing 67, Fig. 4', withsuflicient looseness to permit the feeler to swing horizontally from the dotted to full line position, as indicated, in Fig. 4, as the detent moves to its-operative position. To effect end 42 of the'detent, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3 and .5, the result being that when the detent 40 is tripped, as indicated in e-Fi 1, by adownward movement ofthe sli e 44 and islocked in its tripped position, the

slide 44 will be moved upwardly after the trip lug has passed the end 54 of the tripping lever and will rise until the stop or stops 53 limit the action of the spring 52, a condition represented in Fig. 5. At this tim the detent is still held in its inoperative position, Fig. 5, and when the feeler is moved frontwardly b a working supply of filling and is freed fi'om its lock or plunger 58 it will be turned contra-clockwise, Fig. 5, into engagement with the part or shoulder 31 of the feeler, and during such movement of the detent the end 42 thereof will rest between the two inclined surfaces 68 and 69 of the tripping slide 44:, thereby causing the detent to move from its dotted to its full line position, Fig. 4., and impart to the feeler the additional frontward movement, so that on subsequent detecting beats, even with a working supply of filling in the shuttle, the feeler will not engage the filling.

Obviously, the periods of inactivity of the feeler may be varied by variation in tl e position of the tripping lug 55 connected with the take-up, and likewise the periods of activity of the feeler may be varied by varying the shape or size of the tripping lugs. When, however, the feeler is released to the performance of its feeling function, the detent is held or locked in its inoperative position to avoid any interference with the sensitiveness of the feeler act-ion. Should the feeler meet a working supply of filling in the shuttle during its period of activity, it will be moved frontwardly thereby and free the detent from its holding means, so that the latter may again move into operative position and hold the feeler in its frontward retracted position. As the detent thus moves into its operative position, the engaging end portion of the detent will be moved frontwardly, as hereinbe'fore described, to give an additional frontward movement to the feeler and hold it out of cooperative relation with the filling during its periods of inactivity.

What is claimed is:

1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, mieans normally acting to impel the feeler rearwardly into feeling position, a detent for holding the feeler in a frontward inoperative position, means for freeing the feeler-from'the detent periodically to permit the feeler to move rearwardly int-o feeling position, means for locking the, detent in its feeler freeing position until the feeler is moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling on a detecting beat and thereupon unlocking the detent that it may again function to hold the feeler in a frontward inoperative position.

I 2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, means normally acting to impel the feeler rearwardly into feel ing position, a detent for holding the feeler in a frontward inoperative position, means for freeing the feeler from the detent period ically to permit the feeler to move rearward-- ly into feeling position, means for locking the detent in its feeler .freeing position until the feeler is moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling on a detecting beat and thereupon unlocking the detent that it may again function to hold the feeler in a frontward inoperative position, and means for causing the detent to Withdraw the feeler frontwardly when unlocked from its feeler freeing position.

. 3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted to detect the condition of the filling in the shuttle and to initiate replenishment when the filling is substantially exhausted, a detent, a part carried by the feeler to be engaged by the detent for holding the feeler in frontward inoper-. ative position, means for. moving the detent from engagement with said part periodically to permit the feeler to move to rearward feeling position, a lock for holding the detent in feeler freeing position until the feeler is moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling and thereupon freeing the detent that it may again hold the feeler in inoperative position.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted to detect the condition of the filling in the shuttle and to initiate replenishment when the fillingzis substantially exhausted, a detent, a part carried by the feeler to be engaged by the detent for holding the feeler in frontward inoperative position, means for moving the detent from engagement with said part periodically to permit the feeler to move to rearward feeling position, a lock for holding the detent in feeler freeing position until the feeler is moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling and thereupon freeing thedetent that it may again hold the feeler in inoperative position, and means for causing the detent to withdraw the feeler frontwardly as the detent moves into feeler holding position.

5. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler, a detent for holding the feeler in frontward inoperative position, means for freeing the detent from holding relation with the feeler after a plurality of picks that the feeler may move to filling engaging position, means for locking the detent in inoperative position, and means for unlocking the detent that it may again hold the feeler in inoperative position.

6. Afeeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler, a detent for holding the feeler in frontward inoperative position, means for freeing the detent from holding relation withthe. feeler after a plurality of picks that the feeler may move to filling engaging position, means for locking the detent in inoperative position, means for unlocking the detent that it may again hold the feeler in inoperative position, and a part acting upon the detent when it is unlocked to cause the detent to withdraw the feeler frontwardly that it may not engage the filling on subsequent detecting beats until the feeler is again permitted to move to feeling position.

7. A feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler, a spring for moving the feeler rearwardly into feeling position, a detent for holding the feeler from spring induced movement, means for freeing the feeler from the detent after a plurality of picks, a lock for the detent to retain it in feeler freeing position, means for tripping the lock when the ieeler detects a working supply of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat and ineffectual to trip the lock when the feeler detects a near approach to substantial exhaustion of filling.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to efi'ect replenishment of filling when that in the shuttle is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, a detent for holding the feeler in a fro-ntward inoperative position, means for tripping the detent periodically after a plurality of picks, means for locking the detent in its tripping position, and means rendered, effectual by a Working supply of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat for freeing the detent from its locking means that the detent may again hold the feeler in inoperative position.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler mounted for movement in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle to effect replenishment [of filling when that in the shuttle is substantially exhausted on a detecting .beat, a detent for holding the feeler in a frontward inoperative position, means for tripping the detent periodically after a plurality of picks,

means for locking the detent in its tripping position, means rendered efiectual by a working supply of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat for freeing the detent from its locking means that the detent may again hold the feeler in inoperative position, and means for causing the detent to impart an additional frontward movement to the feeler as the detent moves towards feeler holding position. 1

10. In a loom, the combination of a feeler to cooperate at times with the filling in the shuttle and initiate a change in the loom operation when substantial exhaustion of filling is detected, a detent adapted to engage the feeler and hold it inoperative in retr-acted position, means for tripping the detent at intervals to release the feeler, a device for holding the detent out of engagement with the feeler when it is tripped that the feeler may be sensitive to its detecting movement, and means rendered effective to release the detent from said device and permit the detent to again engage the feeler when a Working supply of filling isdeteoted by the feeler on a detecting beat.

11. In a loom, the combination of a feeler to cooperate at times with the filling in the shuttle and initiate a change in the loom operation when substantial exhaustion of the filling is detected, a detent adapted to engage the feeler and hold it inoperative in retracted position, means for tripping the detent at intervals to release the feeler, a device for holding the detent out of engagement with the feeler when it is'tripped that the feeler may be sensitive, in its detecting movement, means rendered effective to release the detent from said device and permit the detent to again engage the feeler when 'a working supply offilling is detected by the feeler on a detecting beat, and means constructed and arranged to cause the detent to move the feeler frontwardly when the detent is released andengages the feeler.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALONZO E. RHOADES. 

